Entranceway or foyer-based, communication apparatus and system

ABSTRACT

The invention is a digital doorman-like and communication system comprising a small-footprint, software-driven, controller device that is intuitively operable and which also communicates with wireless tenants&#39; mobile devices, and based thereon, controls access to the building entranceway area, distributes information to management and to tenants and communicates flexibly including via voice, video, messaging and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to multi-dwelling,apartment-building automation and, more particularly, to an automated,smart, electronic and multi-purposed doorman-like system that is focusedon providing remote monitoring of apartment renters' compliance withrental regulations and agreements, improved access to the building lobbyarea to residents, visitors, delivery persons and maintenance people,improved intercom capabilities between apartment dwellers and theentranceway or foyer area using visual and audio interactive systems,and improved communications between building operators and personsentering their buildings.

Conventional products and tools currently utilized by multifamilybuilding operators to monitor activity in and around buildingentranceways and foyers, e.g., using video cameras and standard intercomsystems, provide only very basic audio visual tracking of buildingentryway traffic. The existing systems are inadequate, particularly withthe recent explosion of renters engaging in illegal subletting ofapartments, for example, through the widely known AIRBNB service whichtempts and allows renters to violate their rental Agreements and exposesother dwellers in the building to strangers, and occasional visitorswhose credentials to live, roam through and use the building's commonfacilities have not been properly investigated.

In addition, the existing systems are rather cumbersome, require laborintensive security and access control, and provide little oversight ormonitoring of maintenance in building and scarce technology fortracking/interacting with tenants.

Also, the primitiveness of existing systems results in inefficient,decades old intercom technology being utilized, deliveries being leftunattended in the lobby or at nearby pay services, and the use of keysand fobs that are prone to being lost and expensive to replace.

To the present inventor's knowledge, existing systems lack thetechnology to assist in tracking/interacting with visitors, whichresults in missing important guests, and an inadequate tracking ofchildren and dog walkers and a lack of more efficient communication withmanagement regarding both building management and maintenance issues.

Several vendors presently provide entranceway-based, doorman-likesystems, as well as communication platforms with some similar featuresto the present invention. Among these existing systems are those thatare advertised on-line and known as: Amazonlocker (www.amazon.com);August (www.august.com); Buildinglink (www.buildinglink.com);Buildingsnitch (www.buildingsnitch.com); Butterflymx(www.butterfly.com); Gateguard (www.Gateguard.xyz.com); Kisi(www.getkisi.com); Latch (www.latchaccess.com); Lockitron(www.lockitron.com); Packageconcierge (www.packageconcierge.com); Skybel(www.skybel.com); Subletalert (www.subletalert.com); Subletspy(www.sublet.spy.com) and Virtualdoorman (www.virtualdoorman.com); aswell as others.

With further reference to the prior art, U.S. Patent Publication US2009/0141117 describes a method and apparatus for providing lockers inmulti-apartment buildings connected via an interface to a videointerphone system via a local guardsman or a virtual guardsman over anetwork.

U.S. Patent Publication US 2016/0247340 describes an automation systemfor a building lobby which observes guests to residents, predicts a userprofile associated with the guest and invites an administrator from anautomation system to create a profile of the guest. The system storesbiometric identifiers with a visitation pad and determine if the guestrequires a profile.

U.S. Patent Publication 2011/0071951 is directed to a system formonitoring occupancy of a rental property and its focus is primarily todetect, for example, by monitoring the usage of utilities, whether atenant is actively occupying a rental property such as an apartment.

U.S. Patent Publication 2014/0040054 is directed to a housing servicesKiosk which is primarily focused on an electronic system for leasing andservices for multi-family residential housing. It enables tenants tomake rental payments or for third parties to view available apartmentsand communicate with the leasing agency.

The contents of the aforementioned United States publications are fullyincorporated with the reference herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide asmart, digital doorman-like system that avoids the aforementioned andother drawbacks of the prior art.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a visual andhighly interactive system for multi-apartment buildings that is providedas a compact, small footprint, entranceway-based electronic doorman-likedevice, referred to herein as the building's communication Kiosk.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention are realized by adigital doorman-like and communication system comprising asmall-footprint, software-driven, controller device that is intuitivelyoperable and which also communicates with wireless tenants' mobiledevices, and based thereon, controls access to the building lobby area,distributes information to management and to tenants and communicatesflexibly including via voice, video, messaging and the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention comprises a kiosk-likecommunication system, comprising: a housing comprising an interior and afront face, the interior being configured to hold electronic circuitsassociated with operational algorithms for functionalities involving amulti-apartment building (MAB); attachment hardware for mounting thehousing to a support structure located at an entranceway comprising afoyer or a publically accessible area of the MAB; a display mounted atthe front face of the housing, the display being configured to displayinformation to tenants, owners of and visitors to the MAB, the displayincorporating a touch sensitive interface to allow tenants and visitorsto enter information for the operational algorithms; a camera system forproviding visual information of at least the entranceway; door closingand opening hardware coupled to the electronic circuits for closing andopening an entrance door of the MAB; a CPU associated with theelectronic circuits for executing software algorithms to effect at leastthe following functions: a) validating persons to be permitted entryinto the MAB; b) unlocking the entrance door into the MAB; c) preparingreports and communicating said reports to management personnel locatedoffsite the MAB, regarding activities associated with the MAB; and d)visually identifying persons who request entry into the MAB.

The preferred embodiments of the invention may further comprise or besuch that the CPU and software algorithm are located inside saidhousing, or outside said housing or be cloud-based. The kiosk-likecommunication system includes a facility for identifying persons, usingpreviously entered biometric information for persons requesting entryinto the MAB. It may further include a facility for counting the numberof persons entering and leaving the MAB over given time periods, andinclude a time-clock facility for allowing visitors to enter a time ofarrival and a time of departure from the MAB, and include an intercomcommunication system, wherein the intercom communication system isconfigured to allow residents/tenants of the MAB to communicate withpersons located at the entranceway of the building via an audio systemincluded in the housing.

According to further preferred embodiments, the camera system includesmultiple cameras located at the entranceway at different height levels,a facility for communicating with a mobile communication device and forallowing entry into the MAB based on the system being able to sense thatthe mobile electronic device is located at the entranceway of the MAB,and an electronic eye system to sense each person crossing theentranceway into said at least one door. There may also be included, ahuman interaction facility that allows management personnel locatedremotely from the MAB to communicate with persons located adjacent thehousing, either by audio or by video communications, a facility fordisplaying advertising content on the display, and a facility thatallows local merchants to display advertising copy directly on thedisplay of the MAB.

The report generating facility is preferably configured to providereports of at least two of the following functions: 1) utility meterreadings associated with the MAB; 2) exceptional usages of utilityservices; and 3) alarms set for water, electricity and HVAC parameters.The system may include, movement detectors located at a variety oflocations in the MAB and said detectors communicating with saidelectronic circuits and providing indications to management of movementsof humans at said variety of locations based on pre-determined criteria.It may further provide door ajar reports. The camera system may includecameras located in elevators of the MAB, a facility for qualifying andvalidating temporary visitors to the multi-apartment building andcameras located in hallways of the MAB and in the entranceway of the MABand allowing tenants to track the movements of children from individualtenant apartments through the entranceway and onto a street on which theentranceway is located.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of the invention which refers tothe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective showing the housing of an interactivecommunication and monitoring Kiosk in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates various parties and entitiescommunicating with the communication Kiosk of the invention.

FIG. 2a is a further diagrammatic illustration of the communicationsetup of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a screen viewable on the communication Kiosk ofthe present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing handheld devices and screen shots thatappear on these wireless communication devices that communicate with thecommunication Kiosk of the present invention.

FIG. 5 perspectively illustrates internal components of the Kiosk of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is an overall block diagram illustrating hardware/softwareconstituents of the overall system utilized with the Kiosk of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 shows software components/modules of the system associated withthe Kiosk of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of various sensory information that is fed tothe Kiosk of the present invention to be shared by multiple parties.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In the detailed description below, the term “Kiosk” shall have itsordinary English meaning and shall designate generally a small structurelocated in a public area used for providing information or displayingadvertisement, often incorporating an interactive display screen orscreens. In the description below, the term Kiosk is used somewhat morebroadly to include an additional functionality as described below.

Referring to the drawings, the communication Kiosk 10 of the presentinvention is intended to be located external to or in the foyer, closeto the entranceway, of a multi-dwelling apartment building or the like,and it can be installed by being affixed to a wall or to a desk basedpedestal or the like. Referring to FIG. 1, the communication Kiosk 10has an openable housing 12 with a display screen 14, preferably touchsensitive, the housing 12 supporting a wide angle high resolution webcam 16, stereo speakers 18, proximity sensors 20, ambient light sensors22 and local area lighting 24, which may comprise an LED light strip.Internal electronics located in the housing 12 may be cooled by drawingair via a cabinet ventilation port 126.

The communication Kiosk 10 is intended to be, as diagrammaticallydepicted in FIG. 2, a cloud-services enabled device that communicateswith various handheld, wireless communication devices, e.g., cellphones, tablets, mobile computers, etc. under control of an overallcontrolling facility 48 that provides oversight over the softwareoperations of the communication Kiosk 10, and through the operationsthereof provides communication reports or receives information fromvarious entities including from: a building super 42, a buildingmanagement 44, residents 46, maintenance personnel 47 and deliveryservices 45. This is further diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 2ashowing the communication Kiosk 10 in communication with and sendingdata or receiving information from the aforementioned entities includingvisitors 51.

As shall be elaborated upon further on, the overall functionality of thecommunication Kiosk 10 is to communicate with building residents' mobiledevices that have been pre-loaded with application software forcommunicating with the Kiosk and thereby verify and authenticateresidents and then open the main building door to allow entrance toresidents. The Kiosk 10 can also communicate with a regular landline orcellular number, and allows residents access by dialing a digit on thekeypad. However, the communication Kiosk 10, via its touch screen andvoice communication, can be approached directly to provide thatauthentication and entry into the building function, as well as intercomcommunication with residents. Thereby, residents, from any location inthe world via their phone device, can effectively “buzz-in” visitors.Tenants and management personnel can also remotely control access to thebuilding including to delivery people and the like. There is also theability to gain entry via a QR (Quick Response) code that can bedisplayed to the scanner on the Kiosk 10, and will be granted entry viathose credentials.

While a single housing 12 with a single camera is illustrated, it iswithin the overall concept and ambit of the present invention that theremay also be placed several other cameras communicating wirelessly withthe communication Kiosk 12. These cameras can be located on postsinterspersed in front of the main entrance door into the building lobbyand thereby have people's photos taken and automatically authenticatedwithout approaching or having to manually engage the physical housing ofthe Kiosk 10. This would prevent unnecessary queues in front of thecommunication Kiosk 12, enabling residents to be quickly screened andallowed entry with practically no delay at all. That is, the cameraswould automatically transmit the photos of the residents to thecommunication Kiosk 12 and the application software will thenautomatically be launched in the phones of the residents and theauthentication process completed without any manual steps.

Although not shown, it may be an option of the invention that anelectronic eye mechanism in front of the main door “counts” the numberof people who have entered when a particular resident has been approvedfor entry so that only a single person crosses the main entrance doorwhen it opens. Alarms may be sounded when needed.

With reference to FIG. 3, it should be understood that a great deal ofcommunication information is exchanged or provided through the touchscreen 14 on the communication Kiosk 10 and one exemplary screen layout50 may comprise a header banner 52 identifying the particular building,input dialog boxes 54 for selecting a language of communication, touchpads 56 for identifying residents and touch pads 58, 60 and 62 for beingused by visitors, delivery or maintenance people. News information canbe streamed at a portion of the screen identified at 66 andadvertisement can be provided at 64, which supports the quest of makingthe communication Kiosk of the present invention a financiallyattractive system and apparatus to install by building owners.

As can be appreciated, it is intended that residents, visitors and thelike could communicate with the communication Kiosk 10 through the touchscreen 14. However, and as illustrated in FIG. 4, the internalhardware/software construct (to be described) that drives thecommunication Kiosk 10 is intended to communicate via the worldwide web(www) with wireless devices 70 that have been pre-loaded withapplication software that allows them to communicate with the system,thereby allowing residents and other building visitors to communicatevia screens 72, 74 with the system of the present invention. Thewireless devices may be iOS devices, Android devices, PDAs, laptops orany portable communication devices, enabling exchanging of information,transmission of video and audio information as well as trackinginformation that is being processed, handled and analyzed by thecommunication system in the Kiosk 10.

Overall, the communication Kiosk 10 is, as shown in FIG. 5, rather smallin size which means that it leaves only a small footprint on a wall oron a desktop at the entranceway to a building, for example, on the orderof the size of a tablet, laptop or the like. Thus, the communicationKiosk 10 has an interior space comprising hingedly connected housinghalves 81 a and 81 b that are securely locked through a three pointlocking system 82. The Kiosk electronics 88 is housed on one side andthe various internal systems and electronics can be powered by a 12 VoltDC power supply 86. External communications can be provided via aninternal WI-FI, ethernet, or cellular modem antenna system 84.

Referring to FIG. 6, the communication Kiosk 10 of the present inventionessentially comprises a software-controlled system 100 that includes atleast one CPU 110 operating with various memories 112 that storeexecutable software programs/modules 114 that collect, generate andprovides data and information. Computer systems of this nature arewidely known in the art and do not require any explanation herein. It isnoted though that for the purposes of the present invention, theCPU/controller 110 can communicate with various other systems, boththrough cloud services as indicated by the worldwide web block 122 andvia local system interfaces 120.

Accordingly, the system interface 120 communicates and exchangesinformation with the CPU 110 relative to the display 124 which caninclude several auxiliary displays at the entranceway, as well as thedisplay 14 (FIG. 1), various sound systems 126, including sound systemslocated on individual cell phones or sound boxes (not shown) installedin the apartments, to enable entranceway or foyer communications systems128, for example, through the stereo speakers 18 (FIG. 1).

The system interface 120 also provides communications with variouscamera systems including a panel camera 130 and auxiliary cameras 132(described in more detail further on), various door ajar sensors 134 aswell as elevator systems including elevator cameras 136, buildingsystems 138 (heating, ventilation, etc.) and the wireless communicationssystems 140. The system interface 120 also provides a communication linkto the CPU 110 to optional storage rooms 142, alarms 144 and aprinter/scanner 146 that may be interfaced to the CPU 110. Thereby, theKiosk 10 enables residents 150, guests 152, delivery personnel 156 andrepair maintenance people 158 to communicate either directly via thesystem 120 (or via the worldwide web interface 122), to provideinformation to the CPU 110 and to establish voice communications betweenresidents etc. and the system 100 and/or live conversations withmanagement, as well as receiving live feed of video footage produced bythe various cameras and sensors. Lastly, the worldwide web interface 122enables communication by the master controller (MVI) 48 which canrequest reports to be sent to management and to security personnel.

As shown in FIG. 7, the executable software 155 of the present inventioninteracts with the CPU operating system 160 and can include varioussoftware modules including a management module 162, a user registrationmodule 164, a communications module 166 and a data management module168. The software 160 also interacts with camera controlling modules170, with door systems 172 and the various sensors 174 including anoccupant monitoring module 176 to obtain functionalities describedfurther on.

As previously noted, residents 150 as well as guests, delivery andmaintenance personnel (152, 156, 158) also interact with the software155. The software system optionally includes facial and soundrecognition software modules 180 and management software modules 182 tomanage the building facility and residents' personal data andpreferences setting software 184, so residents can provide to thesoftware 155 personal data, e.g., time slots when guests are notallowed, photos of guests and the like.

The camera and sensor array interface 200 depicted in the block diagramof FIG. 8, includes the interface hardware 202 which receives inputs andcan exchange messages with lobby or entranceway cameras 204, corridorcameras 206, street view cameras 208 and optional (and resident enable)apartment cameras 210. The camera system also can interface withelevator cameras 212. In addition, the interface system 202 receivesinputs or can provide information that is obtained from HVAC sensors andmeters 214, utility meters 216, laundry machines 218 and variousBluetooth beacons 220.

The system of the present invention thereby provides the many functionsand facilities, information, and data that provide to both themanagement and the residents of a multi-dwelling apartment buildingintercom communications via the Kiosk 10 from the entranceway or foyerto the individual apartments, the streaming of advertising on the maindisplay 14 at the entranceway, mobile communication by tenants andmanagement via wireless technology such as Apple IOS, or native apps orAndroid native apps, mobile view web responsive facilities, Blue Tooth,Web RTC communication and the like.

Thereby, the software facilities and hardware system of the presentinvention provides a solution that stops illegal subletting and illegalAirbnb use, through monitoring and comparing photos of persons who enterthe building to pre-stored photos of residents of the building. Inaddition, residents are able to, through their wireless devices, or atthe Kiosk 10, to send to the system photos of guests and indicateparameters about when those guests will be permitted entry, creating anautomatically operated entry system into the building includingproviding access to the individual apartment.

Maintenance people can enter all their information including the type ofwork done such as repairs and maintenance activities and all thatinformation is automatically sent to management. The scheduling ofmaintenance and repairs can be enhanced by the system of the presentinvention.

For tenants, the system of the invention provides the advantages thattenants no longer have to carry keys or fobs that are easily lost andinstead have their wireless phones or a QR tab, to be used as buildingentry fob or key. In fact, the tenants can answer a call from theentranceway or foyer to their apartments from anywhere in the world andalso have “face time” style, video communication with visitors at anytime. The system enables tenants to grant access to important visitors,for example, to family or to dog walkers and the like, while away fromhome. Tenants can authorize the system of the invention to receive videofrom their apartment installed cameras, which videos are then routed tothe tenant wherever they happen to be. Similarly, the system also allowstenants to receive and track package deliveries. The delivery servicescan access a metal lockbox in the lobby, via the Kiosk 10 with theircredentials, and then place the packages within. The tenants would thenreceive an alert that they have a package delivered, and can open thelockbox with their phone app. The tenants can also choose to leavepackages at the lobby for pickup and the system of the present inventionallows a delivery man to scan and leave information through the system10 to the tenant that the package has been picked up. The system allowsvideo access to building notices and schedules. Tenants have directconnection with management regarding maintenance issues.

Tenants can request streaming of the building cameras images to theirindividual wireless devices, whereby a parent can track a child as thechild enters an elevator, and watch the child at the entranceway orfoyer, and at the same time also monitor the arrival of a school bus viathe street-view cameras of the building. Thus, child safety and parentconvenience are greatly enhanced, including because the parent does notneed to stand for a long period outside waiting for a school bus, butcan actually watch the school bus arriving and only then, enter theelevator with the child to meet the bus. Tenants can also track theirchildren via simple alerts that can be sent to their mobile device whena child entered the building, or if the child didn't enter the buildingby a certain time.

The system of the invention can be financially attractive forinstallation by building owners through the medium of having the systempaid for by tenants' monthly subscriptions or management monthlysubscriptions. In addition, the system can pay for itself throughadvertising that is allowed to be placed on the system 10. Suchadvertising can be via digital out-of-home media (DOOH), in a mannerwell known in the art.

The system of the invention also allows sensors to be placed adjacent toor within doorframes and tenants can control those sensors such thatwhen they are home, they are disabled. But when tenants leave home, thesensors become enabled and tenants receive notification every time thedoor to their residence is opened, whereby they can monitor the comingsand goings of service people or guests, or even intruding people, whilethey are absent, for example, while vacationing.

Although the present invention has been described in relation toparticular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modificationsand other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It ispreferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by thespecific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

1. A kiosk-like communication system, comprising: a housing comprisingan interior and a front face, the interior being configured to holdelectronic circuits associated with operational algorithms forfunctionalities involving a multi-apartment building (MAB); attachmenthardware for mounting the housing to a support structure located at anentranceway comprising a foyer or a publically accessible area of theMAB; a display mounted at the front face of the housing, the displaybeing configured to display information to tenants, owners of andvisitors to the MAB, the display incorporating a touch sensitiveinterface to allow tenants and visitors to enter information for theoperational algorithms; a camera system for providing visual informationof at least the entranceway; door closing and opening hardware coupledto the electronic circuits for closing and opening an entrance door ofthe MAB; a CPU associated with the electronic circuits for executingsoftware algorithms to effect at least the following functions: a)validating the tenants prior to permitting the tenants entry into theMAB; b) unlocking the entrance door into the MAB; c) preparing reportsand communicating said reports to management personnel located offsitethe MAB, regarding activities associated with the MAB; and d) visuallyidentifying the tenants who request entry into the MAB; and the systemincluding a facility for communicating with a mobile communicationdevice that has been previously associated with a person authorized toenter the MAB and for allowing entry into the MAB based on the systembeing able to sense that the mobile electronic device is located at theentranceway of the MAB.
 2. The kiosk-like communication system of claim1, wherein said CPU and software algorithm are located inside saidhousing.
 3. The kiosk-like communication system of claim 1, wherein saidCPU and software algorithms are located outside said housing.
 4. Thekiosk-like communication system of claim 1, wherein said CPU andsoftware algorithms are cloud-based.
 5. The kiosk-like communicationsystem of claim 1, including a facility for identifying persons, usingpreviously entered biometric information for persons requesting entryinto the MAB.
 6. The kiosk-like communication system of claim 1,including a facility for counting the number of persons entering andleaving the MAB over given time periods.
 7. The kiosk-like communicationsystem of claim 1, including a time-clock facility for allowing visitorsto enter a time of arrival and a time of departure from the MAB.
 8. Thekiosk-like communication system of claim 1, including an intercomcommunication system, wherein the intercom communication system isconfigured to allow residents/tenants of the MAB to communicate withpersons located at the entranceway of the building via an audio systemincluded in the housing.
 9. The kiosk-like communication system of claim1, wherein the camera system includes multiple cameras located at theentranceway at different height levels.
 10. (canceled)
 11. Thekiosk-like communication system of claim 1, including an electronic eyesystem to sense each person crossing the entranceway into said at leastone door.
 12. The kiosk-like communication system of claim 1, includinga human interaction facility that allows management personnel locatedremotely from the MAB to communicate with persons located adjacent thehousing, either by audio or by video communications.
 13. The kiosk-likecommunication system of claim 1, including a facility for displayingadvertising content on the display.
 14. The kiosk-like communicationsystem of claim 13, including a facility that allows local merchants todisplay advertising copy directly on the display of the MAB.
 15. Thekiosk-like communication system of claim 1, wherein the reportgenerating facility is configured to provide reports of at least two ofthe following functions: 1) utility meter readings associated with theMAB; 2) exceptional usages of utility services; and 3) alarms set forwater, electricity and HVAC parameters.
 16. The kiosk-like communicationsystem of claim 1, including movement detectors located at a variety oflocations in the MAB and said detectors communicating with saidelectronic circuits and providing indications to management of movementsof humans at said variety of locations based on pre-determined criteria.17. The kiosk-like communication system of claim 16, including door ajarreports.
 18. The kiosk-like communication system of claim 1, the camerasystem including cameras located in elevators of the MAB.
 19. Thekiosk-like communication system of claim 1, the system including afacility for qualifying and validating temporary visitors to themulti-apartment building.
 20. The kiosk-like communication system ofclaim 1, wherein the camera system includes cameras located in hallwaysof the MAB and in the entranceway of the MAB and allowing tenants totrack the movements of children from individual tenant apartmentsthrough the entranceway and onto a street on which the entranceway islocated.